Homebrewing is the process of brewing beer, wine, cider and other beverages through fermentation on a small scale as a hobby for personal consumption. In order to have a better, more complex understanding of home and microbrewing, we must first understand the terminology associated with home brewing. Below are several terms to be familiar with when researching home brewing recipes, ingredients and equipment.

Home Brewing Kit - A home brewing kit consists of everything needed in order to successfully make or brew one's own lager, pilsner, stout or IPA. The ingredients in the kit will vary slightly depending upon the type and flavor of beer one is brewing. Regardless, the kit will come with a list of instructions for a specific recipe. Many experienced brewers will come up with their own microbrewing recipes in order to create a unique ale or lager. Kits are ideal for first-time brewers who want to learn about the brewing process or experiment with how to make different types of beer.

Hops - Hops are a twining plant that bears male flowers in loose clusters and female flowers which appear cone-like. The dried female cones are used in beer recipes and are what gives the brew its bitter taste. Hops are used throughout the brewing process.

Growler - Growlers are large bottles generally made of glass and have either a screw-on cap or a hinged porcelain gasket cap, which can provide freshness for a week or more.

Siphon - A siphon is used to extract liquid without the use of a pump. It is used during the brewing process to transfer the first fermentation into a new, clean container. Proper siphoning keeps impurities such as dreg or foam from being transferred to the new container.

Making beer is a fun pastime for many people. While there are many different types of beer, they should contain the main ingredients of malt, yeast, grain, and hops. This fermented alcoholic drink is similar to ale, lager, pilsner and stout, but they all feature different consistencies, colors, and flavorings.
People who want to make their own beer at home can take on this project with a few simple pieces of equipment. They should head to a retailer or wholesaler that specializes in beer homebrewing equipment and supplies. Here, they can purchase anything from thermometers and siphons to pots and kegs. Sales associates skilled in homebrewing themselves are often on hand to help consumers pick out the right products such as bottles and ingredients for their endeavor.
Whether a customer is interested in brewing dry lager, porter, scotch ale, or Belgian beer, he or she needs the main equipment and supplies for the job. This may include bottles, pots, and kettles for fermentation and other processes. Books are available on this subject. Head to the library or check the Internet for tips and tricks on how to get started.
Stores that sell beer homebrewing equipment may provide extra services in addition to sales, such as delivery, forums, online shopping capabilities, and wish lists. They may sell products like chillers, kegs, kits, spoons, and racks. They should also sell the ingredients you'll need to actually make the beer, such as malt, grain, and hops pellets.
For those just getting started, it's probably best to go with a basic home brewing kit, which contains all of the supplies needed to get started. Other items such as taps, caps, siphons, growlers, and draft beer dispensers can all be purchased from local beer homebrewing equipment and supplies providers in a range of prices.